Theatre promotion

Sonia Friedman Productions and Ambassador Theatre Group present the national tour of the multi-award winning hit West End musical SUNNY AFTERNOON. Recipient of four awards at the 2015 Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Music for Ray Davies, the tour of SUNNY AFTERNOON is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Ambassador Theatre Group with Tulchin Bartner Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Glass Half Full Productions, Rupert Gavin, in association with Hampstead Theatre and Arlon Productions. The national tour will visit the Theatre Royal Nottingham from 24 to 28 January 2017. Full tour schedule is here www.sunnyafternoonthemusical.com

Featuring some of The Kinks’ best-loved songs, including You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset and Lola, SUNNY AFTERNOON tells the story of the early life of Ray Davies and the rise to stardom of The Kinks.

The Kinks exploded onto the 60s music scene with a raw energetic new sound that rocked a nation. But how did that happen, where exactly did they come from and what happened next?

Set against the back-drop of a Britain caught mid-swing between the conservative 50s and riotous 60s, this production explores the euphoric highs and agonising lows of one of Britain’s most iconic bands and the irresistible music that influenced generations.

Ryan O’Donnell (Ray Davies) most recently appeared in “Sunny Afternoon” at the Harold Pinter Theatre. His other theatre credits include: “Quadrophenia” at Theatre Royal Plymouth; “Frankenstein” at Royal and Derngate; “Romeo & Juliet” for the Royal Shakespeare Company; “ShadowMouth” at Sheffield Crucible and “Tracy Beaker the Musical” at the Nottingham Playhouse. Ryan was a member of the band Jethro Tull for four years. In 2009 he recorded ‘Matthew and Son’ with Cat ‘Yusuf’ Stevens and the BBC.

Mark Newnham (Dave Davies) most recently appeared in “All or Nothing” at The Vaults Theatre London. His other theatre credits include: “Return to the Forbidden Planet” on UK tour; “Lennon” at the Royal Court, Liverpool; “Bouncers” and “A Passionate Woman” at the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch” and “Hot Stuff” at the Oldham Coliseum.

Garmon Rhys (Pete Quaife) most recently appeared in “Doctor Faustus” at Trafalgar Studios. His other theatre credits include: “The Secret Adversary” at the Watermill Theatre & UK tour and “Regeneration” at the Royal and Derngate and UK tour.

Andrew Gallo (Mick Avory) most recently appeared in “Parade” at the Hope Mill Theatre. His other theatre credits include: “Adam Long’s Dickens Abridged” on UK tour; “Sister Act” at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre; “Saturday Night Fever” at the Theatre Royal Bath and UK tour; “New York City Rhythm” at the Playhouse Theatre and “Hairspray” at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

Following a sell-out run at Hampstead Theatre, SUNNY AFTERNOON opened to critical acclaim at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End in October 2014 and had its final London performance at the Harold Pinter Theatre on 29 October 2016.

SUNNY AFTERNOON has music and lyrics by Ray Davies with a book by Joe Penhall and original story by Ray Davies. It is directed by Edward Hall, designed by Miriam Buether with choreography by Adam Cooper. Lighting design is by Rick Fisher with sound design by Matt McKenzie for Autograph. Musical and vocal adaptations are by Ray Davies and Elliott Ware based on original Kinks recordings. The Musical Director is Barney Ashworth and the Musical Supervisor is Elliott Ware.